Russell Heritage

Russell Heritage

The history of this line of Russell's begins with David Russell who was born about 1750, possibly coming to South Carolina from another county aboard a ship. Which county is unknow at the present but DNA seems to point to the United Kingdom somewhere between Scotland and England. We can't be sure because exact records have not been found although one record seems to fit showing a male around 17 years of age arriving in Charleston, South Carolina named David Russell.

October 18, 2021

On this day in 1735, a group of Scottish Highlanders sailed from Inverness, Scotland aboard the Prince of Wales, bound for Georgia.

They disembarked on the northern bank of the Altamaha River, where they founded New Inverness—later named Darien—60 miles south of Savannah.

The Scots were among the finest soldiers in the world and had been recruited by General James Oglethorpe to provide a buffer between the English Colony and the Spanish in Florida.

The Scots built a fort to replace Fort King George at the mouth of the Altamaha River, which had been abandoned in 1732.

During the conflict with Spain in 1740, known as the War of Jenkins’ Ear, the Scots served with Oglethorpe at the Siege of St. Augustine. They played a critical role in the Spanish defeat at Fort Frederica on St. Simon’s Island in 1742, which solidified English claims on the North American continent.

Georgia might have been a Spanish colony had it not been for the Scottish Highlanders who sailed from the Old World on October 18, 1735, Today in Georgia History.

enerations of David Russell of South Carolina to John Asa Russell of Talbot County, Georgia

One thing we can be sure of is that David Russell ended up in Wilkes County, Georgia, and died there in 1822. Earlier a genealogist researched this line of Russell's and made the conclusion that David was married to Susan Sexton Saxton but no record has been found to date that supports this marriage. What is found is a marriage record in Wilkes County, Georgia to Susan Robison. The person recording the marriage may not have spelled her last name correctly but instead just wrote as they heard her last name spoken. Searching for supporting evidence that this is the David Russell we are researching gives way to an estate distribution record for Thomas Robertson who lists a David Russell receiving the same distribution amount that is given to all the children of Thomas Robertson. This distribution was made on December 25, 1808, lending to the belief that this was a Christmas gift to his descendants. David would have been a son-in-law as we can connect the other son in laws listed on the estate distribution to the daughters of Thomas Robertson of Wilkes, County, Georgia. Another interesting fact that was found is seeing that another one of Thomas Robertson's daughters, Rachael, married Winwright Lawson. Rachael and Winwright would have a daughter they named Francis Bennett Christian Lawson. It would be that daughter that would marry John R. Russell, father of David Robertson Russell. Yes, this would be a case of endogamy. Endogamy, which is the word used when one family member marries into the same family group like when cousins marry cousins, was prevalent with the colonists because the population was small and groups of people traveled and lived in the same area for years making the marriage choices small.

David Russell and Susan would have eight children.

Aaron Russell

Aaron Russell was born the firstborn son of David Russell and Susan Robertson. Born on June 12, 1785, in South Carolina, his father, David, was 35 and his mother, Susan, was 25. He had five sons and two daughters with his wife Martha between 1830 and 1844. He died in November 1850 in Kemper, Mississippi, at the age of 65.

Matilda Russell

Matilda Russell was born on December 11, 1788, in Wilkes, County, Georgia. She was the second child to be born to Susan and David Russell. Her father, David Russell, was 38, and her mother, Susan, was 28. She married William Thomas Harper on October 8, 1807, in her hometown. They had 15 children in 23 years. She died on August 17, 1883, in Ozark, Alabama, at the impressive age of 94, and was buried there. Matilda has a very rich history that can be traced by newspaper articles and by records from the files of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Elizabeth Russell

Third born, Unknown birth or death date

John R. Russell

John R Russell was the fourth born child of David and Susan Russell. When born on June 12, 1791, in Wilkes, Georgia, his father, David, was 41 and his mother, Susan, was 31. He married Frances Bennet Christopher Lawson and they had nine children together. He then married Susan Pervis on August 14, 1853, in Talbot, Georgia. He died on March 18, 1873, in Talbotton, Georgia, having lived a long life of 81 years.

Unfortunately, his first two daughters would die young. David Robertson Russell, his first-born son, would live. He was born on June 27, 1821, in Talbotton, Georgia, his father, John, was 30 and his mother, Frances, was 27. He married Eliza Duncan and they had 11 children together. He then married Martha Ann Elizabeth Crawford and they had six children together. He died on June 30, 1895, in Georgia at the age of 74, and was buried in Manchester, Georgia.

David Robertson Russell

From David Robertson's second marriage, John Asa Russell was born. He was born in Talbotton, Georgia, on July 4, 1872, his father, David Russell was 51, and his mother, Martha Ann Elizabeth Crawford Russell was 37. He grew up in a thriving community well supplied with means to support travel to and from the area as well as shipping via the railroad. Talbot county had been laid out in 1827 from lands that were carved from previously established Muscogee county. Talbot county, lying in the western part of Georgia, was and still has Meriwether County on the north side, Upson County on the northeast side, and Taylor County which was carved out of Talbot and Muscogee county plus Harris County, and part of Muscogee on the west. The county lines were pretty fluid early but today's county lines ring true to the last carving which established Taylor County. Flint River flows along the northeastern side and separates Talbot County from Upson. Lazer Creek is also a main source of water. The terrain is breathtaking with lush forest-covered hills which ripple from the fall line which divides the prehistoric ocean shoreline across the northern part with rich brown soils over a red clay subsoil supporting wild game and fowl. The southern part of the county, once covered by the Atlantic Ocean, has gray sandy soil supporting many long-leaf pines. The entire West and South-Central Georgia block of counties all grew corn, wheat, oats, field and ground peas, cotton, potatoes, and corn along with peaches, plums, apples, pears, and cherries. There was much work to do on the farm and much to learn in school and in everyday life.

John Asa's father, David Russell, was listed as a farmer in the census taken in 1850 and 1860 but by 1870, he had taken a job as a school teacher. In 1870 Talbot County had two schools The LeVert female college and the Collinsworth institute. The Russell children enjoyed a large bank, a money order post office with rural free delivery, express and telegraph offices, successful business houses, a cottonseed oil mill, churches, and a Masonic Hall that has space for meetings and entertainment events.

First, he married Alma Bertha Bishop, daughter of William Cary Bishop and Elizabeth Denham, and they had three children together. Elizabeth, Luther, and Merlin. He then married Winnie Elizabeth Glazier and they had nine children together, Charis, Julia, David, Miles, Joseph Arthur later called Joe, twins Aldean and Aline, Helen and Franklin. He died on July 26, 1959, in Lamar County, Georgia, at the age of 87, and was buried in Meriwether, Woodbury, Georgia at Jones Chapel in the Russell Family plot.

When Asa and Bertha were first married in Pike County, Georgia on November 1, 1899, they lived in a rented house in Meriwether County Georgia in the Jones Mill community along with Asa’s mother Elizabeth and sister Dora who was a dressmaker. One year later on November 14, 1900, sister, Dora, would be married to W. H. Betts in a celebrated double wedding with friends Edward Chunn and Mattie Lou Gill.

This photo was in the care of Betty Whitlow Lee as she was the daughter of Merlin, daughter of Asa and Bertha. She gave this photo inside the original frame to Sheila Russell Phillips, daughter of Luther Russell who was the son of Asa and Bertha.

Sometime between 1900 and 1902 Asa and Bertha moved to Pulaski County, Georgia, and set up housekeeping on their own. By the time the 1910 census was taken, Asa and Bertha only listed two children a son, Luther, age 7, and a daughter, Merlin age 5. Asa’s and Bertha’s first child, Elizabeth, born in 1900, had only lived two years. It is not known why she died for certain but family lore tells us she choked on a bean and lost her breath. As her parents grieved, she was buried in City Cemetery, Cochran, Georgia. Sadly, Bertha would also die ten years later and be buried beside her precious first daughter. Oral history from son Luther is the only proof we have of these events as no documents can be found and the graves are unmarked.

Father Asa Russell front center

Luther Russell, Katie Lee Glazier Culpepper,

Murlin Russell Whitlow, Step-Mother Winnie Glazier Russell

Henry Luther Russell, the son of John Asa Russell and Alma Bishop Russell was born on December 16, 1902, in Houston County, Georgia. He Married Bernice Irene Salter and they had one son and one daughter. Sadly, Bernice died on September 1, 1945, when their son Donnie was just a few months old and daughter LaRose was only a little over three. Having small children to care for was difficult but fortunately, he had family that stepped in to help. He then married Ruth Swink on April 17, 1948, and they had one daughter named Sheila, born in 1952.

Always looking for every possible opportunity to learn and grow, he studied every book he could get his hands on when he was young. He became so knowledgeable on so many topics that he was awarded a teacher's certificate from the State of Georgia without ever having attended college. From that, he began his lifetime career in education first in Meriwether County, and then in Upson County teaching in the Jeff Davis school and Atwater School where he would retire. He was so self-motivated all of his life that he took on extra ways to support his family including building houses, running a chicken farm, driving a school bus, renting properties, and all manner of real estate. He died on August 16, 1973, in Thomaston, Georgia, at the age of 70, and was buried in Valley Grove Cemetery in Upson County, Georgia. After his death, some of his clothes were given to his half-brother, Charlie David Russell. Inside one of the pockets, David found a hundred-dollar bill and promptly called Luther's son Donnie. Donnie was not surprised as his father was always concerned with having enough money on hand just in case a deal came up. Donnie attributed this to his father always having to be careful with his money given how his family struggled when he was growing up during the depression years.

World War I Registration Card

1. LaRose Russell

2. Donnie Russell

3. Sheila Russell

Martha Murlin Russell was born on February 24, 1905, in Pulaski, Georgia, her father, John Asa Russell, was 32, and her mother, Alma Bishop Russell, was 23. She married William Claude Whitlow on September 19, 1925. They had five children in 10 years. She died on April 23, 1992, in LaGrange, Georgia, at the age of 87, and was buried there.

John Asa Russell and his two remaining children would move back to Meriwether County, Georgia where he would fall in love again and marry a young dark-haired beauty named Winnie Elizabeth Glazier.

Winnie E Glazier was born on June 18, 1890, in Meriwether, Georgia to Charles Glazier and Julia Rebecca Massengale. John Asa Russell and Winnie Elizabeth Glazier Russell had nine children in 16 years. She died on February 9, 1979, in Thomaston, Georgia, at the age of 88, and was buried in Woodbury, Georgia at Jones Chapel beside John Asa who had died in 1873. Asa and Winnie had been faithful members of Jones Chapel Church and many of the Russell family are buried there including John Asa's mother, Martha Elizabeth Crawford Russell.

Charis Lucille Russell was born in 1916 and married Felton Blackston. They had one son, Rusty Blackston.

Julia Elizabeth Russell married Jim Danielly .........

Charlie David Russell, born in 1920 was the second son born to John Asa Russell and his mother's first. The growing family of seven lived in rural Woodbury, Georgia around the White Sulphur Springs area, where Charlie David would make fond memories. In later years he would point out to his children places he had been and events that happened in his childhood living in Woodbury, Meriwether County, Georgia, and smile. He always looked up to his older step-brother Luther and remained extremely close to him all his life. The same held true for his step-sister Murlin. In looking back Charlie David's daughter Phyllis would remember traveling to the home place of Murlin in Meriwether County and remember what a large grand homeplace it was with big hallways and a grand staircase that seemed to reach heaven. They had a small house in the back yard where a negro man lived who helped them with farming and such that was a delight to be around with all he could show anyone who took the time to listen and learn.

While Charlie David would start out living close to his brother Luther in Upson County Georgia, and even live with him for a few months when Charlie David first married Annie Ruth Slaughter in August of 1946, he would soon join the Army and travel half the world. C. D., which he was also known as, and Annie Ruth Russell worked hard to build a home on Spring Creek Road in Thomaston, Georgia. They had cut wood off the Russell property on Flint River and were so very proud of it but those were depression years and the place was sold just after their daughter Phyllis was born in August of 1947.

David, as he was also known, and Annie Ruth Slaughter had met when both of them worked in the cotton mill and shared a ride to work. Once married, they continued to work in the mill but that just wasn't enough. Annie Ruth would need to quit work as she became pregnant a little more than three months after they were married. Ruth or Rooster as she was also known had wanted a boy but they both were surprised with a baby girl they named Phyllis after a mutual friend that had died. Dr. Frank Woodall had come to the house on Spring Creek Road to deliver the baby and when Ruth said she didn't want a girl, Doctor Frank said he wanted a little girl and would just take her home with him. Of course, that didn't happen. It seemed Leila Slaughter, Ruth's mother, had other ideas and just told Doctor Frank Ruth would keep the baby girl.

As the great depression continued to take a toll on the economy, Charlie David joined the Army and so began his career away from his mother, father, and siblings. After finishing his basic training at Fort McPherson, Georgia, he received his orders to go to Germany. Ruth and almost two-year-old Phyllis would travel to New York and on to a ship to Germany. One can only imagine what emotions Ruth had as she left the only home she had ever known for a place far away full of people she did not know and that did not speak English. While the family of three settled in, imagine their surprise when they learned that Joseph Arthur Russell, Charlie David's brother, was also deployed to Germany. Having his brother stationed in the same land was a comfort to David and Ruth, a piece of home they could hang on to.

While in Germany, Ruth, and David would welcome a baby boy they would name William Asa Russell. He was a joy and such a beautiful baby but Ruth had had a difficult delivery as she was RH negative with O-positive blood. She almost died. Fortunately, she did find a German nanny that would help at home as she recovered. Phyllis learned to speak German, a big help in shopping places, and Billy would continue to grow and add joy to the family.

The family was stationed in Atlanta when they returned from Germany. Phyllis entered first grade but lost all the German language skills she had because she had no one to talk with. The next years would take the family to Fort Benning, Georgia, Oklahoma, Columbia South Carolina, Charleston South Carolina, and several other states. During the time Charlie David was deployed to Korea, Ruth, Phyllis, and Billy would return to Upson County and the children would attend school at Atwater. This would be the case three times, and each time, Luther Russell,

Charlie David's brother who was teaching at Atwater, would keep a watchful eye on both Phyllis and Billy. Phyllis spent weeks during the summer with David's sister, Julia Russell Danielly in Meansville, Georgia every time the family returned to Upson County. Julia welcomed having a girl around her house since she only had three rough and tumble boys. Stern Jim, Julia's husband, tolerated Phyllis but preferred the boys. David's brother Richard Miles Russell would spend time with Billy those summer weeks giving Ruth the breaks she needed. Family ties were important to the Charlie David Russell Family.

Phyllis married Tom Franklin and they had one son, Brent Thomas Franklin, who married Terri Hicks Franklin. They had two children, Carley Ann Franklin and Anna Claire Franklin. Phyllis enjoyed a career in the corporate world and retired from GTE as a management employee of the marketing division. Her skills were also used in their family business of real estate but her real joy was found in the art world and the paintings she created.

Billy Russell graduated from High School in 1969 as well as from Flint River Tech with a degree in electricity. He studied for his professional license and has worked his entire life as a professional licensed electrician. He has two children, Michael and Timmy with his first wife Yvonne Waller Russell, and now makes his home on Hannah's Mill Road in Thomaston, Georgia with his second wife Carolyn Reeves Russell.

Charlie David Russell retired from service in 1967 and he and Ruth opened Russell's Pet Shop. This business would thrive for over 20 years and only closed when health issues for David prevented him from traveling to pick up fish supplies and do other things to keep the business going. He would die in 1995 and is buried at Crystal Hill Cemetery, Thomaston Georgia.

Richard Miles Russell......married Jeanette Fortson and they had two children, Keith and Dan.

Joseph Arthur Russell married Sadie Aspenwall and they had one son, Ray Russell.

Aldean Morris Russell.......

Aline Doris Russell

Helen Voncile Russell

Franklin Eugene Russell ......